How the U.S. military evolved from the militia system to maintaining a standing army
The United States military evolved from the early militia system that helped in bringing independence to the country to the modern advanced military system that is currently considered the best military system in the world (Peskin 84). During the colonial era, the colonial government did not have a properly structured military system, preferring to use militias. The American forces that fought for the independence organized themselves into a militia system and were successful in forcing the colonialists away from the country. The Continental Army operated as a militia system even after the 1776 independence and they operated independently in the 13 states.
The federal government trusted the militia system to protect the American borders because of its efficiency and ease of management (Campbell 71). However, this military system has undergone consistent changes over the years in line with various environmental changes. In 1782, Congress passed the Militia Act was passed that required the militias to purchase their firearms and be ready to respond to distress call under a central command within the states (Waddell 23). However, the fact that the militias were not funded by the government made it difficult to coordinate and control them effectively.
Dick Act of 1903 marked the beginning of the real reforms in the United States military system where the federal government was required to be directly responsible for and be in command of the armed forces. Congress passed legislation that created various arms of the current military system and the forces responsible for maintaining internal security. The military system experienced further transformation in the 18th and early 19th century when the United States started engaging actively in the international military expeditions.
Since the United States borrowed heavily from the British military system when transforming its militia into a modern army, it also made an effort to make it military relevant to the environmental forces (Benn 78). Several changes were made from time to time in line with the changes in the environment. Currently, the United States military system is a highly advanced entity under the ministry of defense, considered to be the best in the world.
Role of the American Revolution and the War of 1812 in the evolution
The American Revolution and the War of 1812 played a major role in the evolution of the American militia into a fully functionally military system with a central command. During this war, the United States was determined to assert its position as an independent country that had all the rights to make independent decisions without any interference from foreign forces (Tucker and Fredriksen 65). To do this, it had to use its poorly organized and inadequately equipped militias. The government set a series of objectives that were to be achieved through military actions. However, none of these objectives were achieved.
The country Capital, Washington, DC was captured and the White House was razed down. This was a wakeup call to the government that the military system needed massive reforms. The massive loss to the enemy forces was blamed on poorly coordinated, poorly trained and poorly equipped militias. President James Madison made a plea to the Congress that the country’s military system needed to have extensive reforms to improve its capacity to handle external threats (Tucker 39).
Works Cited
Benn, Carl. The War of 1812: The Fight for American Trade Rights. New York: Rosen Pub, 2011. Print.
Campbell, Ballard. American Wars. New York: Facts on File, 2012. Print.
Peskin, Lawrence. Captives and Countrymen: Barbary Slavery and the American Public, 1785-1816. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1900. Print.
Tucker, Spencer, and John Fredriksen. The Encyclopedia of the War of 1812: A Political, Social, and Military History. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2012. Print.
Tucker, Spencer. Almanac of American Military History. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2013. Print.
Waddell, Steve. United States Army Logistics: From the American Revolution to 9/11. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2010. Print.